Verizon won't make any new friends with its latest attack on unlimited data

It appears that the unlimited wireless data "gravy train" is fast coming to an end. No matter which wireless network you use in the United States, they all are looking for ways to cripple "unlimited" data either by cutting off the plans altogether or throttling data after a certain gigabyte threshold is crossed.

Verizon Wireless is the latest U.S. carrier to punch customers right between the eyes when it comes to unlimited data. The company is ending the practice of allowing customers on grandfathered, unlimited 3G plans to move to an unlimited 4G data plan when upgrading to a new LTE phone. Instead, those long-time Verizon Wireless customers will have to sign up for a new plan with data caps according to FierceWireless.

Verizon Communications CFO Fran Shammo explained the move at the 40th J.P. Morgan Technology, Media and Telecom conference, stating, "LTE is our anchor point for data share, so as you come through an upgrade cycle and you upgrade in the future, you will have to go onto the data share plan, moving away from the unlimited world."

Shammo is hoping that customers won't mind being kicked off unlimited data plans once Verizon Wireless' family shared data plans launch this summer.

"Everyone will be on data share," Shammo added.

Unfortunately, the company has yet to announce pricing for the shared data plans. However, we have the feeling that customers will be getting a lot less for their money with a family shared data plan than they do with the current grandfathered, unlimited 3G/4G plans.

I hate to say it, but as a Sprint customer I'm reaching my breaking point as well. Seems like their network wasn't always this bad -- I mean 1-2 bars a lot of the time, but solid voice and decent browsing speeds. Now coverage seems spotty(er) and I literally yell at my phone to load pages.

I REALLY don't want to support Verizon or AT&T with their prices/caps, but I'm not sure how much longer can hold out.